Coupling-pin retainer



Aug. 30, 1927. r B- F. KURTZ CouPLI NG PIN RETAINER Filed April 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30.1927. 1,640,413

- B. F. KURTZ .COUPLI NG PIN RETAINER Filed April 1, 1925 2 Shee tsS'neet 2 WITNESS Patented Au fso, 1927.

UNITED STATES BENJAIWIN F.-KURTZ, OF BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO PRESSED STEEL CAR COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, JA CORPORATION OF SEY.

NEW JER- COUPLING-PIN RETAINER.

Application filed April 1, 1926. Serial N0. 99,083.

This invention relates to mine cars or the like and has for an object the provision of means for preventing the accidental loss of the coupling pin from the coupler when the car to which it is applied is turned over.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling pin lock for mine cars which will permit the'removal or replacement of the coupling pin when the car is in its normal righted position and which will automatically move into locking. engagement with the pin when the car is being turned over, thus preventing the accidental loss of the coupling pin.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts, Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of mine car having a coupler mounted thereon which embodies the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of a portion of the coupler embodying the invention; Fig. t is a side elevational View of the same; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 showing the positions of the coupler, pin and pin lock when the car to which it is attached is turned over. 1

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a mine car body to which is attached a coupler 2 having recesses formed therein for the re ception of a coupling pin 3. Intermediate its ends this pin extends across a recess 4 formedin the coupler and adapted to extend through the coupling link (not shown) of an adjacent car when such link is within the recess 4 thus coupling adjacent cars together. The upper end portion of ,this pin is provided with a shoulder 5 and above this shoulder is provided with an eye por tion 6 by the use of which the pin may be operated.

When the pm 3 is in its coupling posltion the underside of the shoulder 5 rests on the top surface of the top portion 7 of the cou' pler. These lugs 8 and 9 are provided with grooves or ways 10 and 11 respectively within which the front and rear edges of a memher 12 preferably in the form of a flat plate is slidably mounted, suchmember spanning the space between the lugs. Between the lugs 8 and 9 the member 12 is provided with an opening 13 which is larger than anypart of the coupling pin 3 so that when desired the pin can be easily withdrawn from the coupler or replaced through this opening. The groove 10 in the lug S is of substantially the same width and depth throughout its length while the groove 11 in'the lug 9 is contracted, adjacent each side of the coupler, byv means of downwardly extending lugs 14. The member 12 is loosely mounted in the grooves 10 and 11 and is slidable toward one side or the other of the coupler and when so moved, the edge portion of the member, which defines the opening 13, is W adapted to engage the portion 6 of the coupling pin within the periphery of the shoulder 5 thereof. It will be noted that when the coupling pin is in the coupler the movement of the member 12 is limited by its eninvention, is in its righted position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the coupling pm 3 can be easily manipulated in coupling or uncoupling cars by lifting or lowering the pin through the openings 13 in the member 12. Should this member he in such a positionthat the edge defining the opening 13 is over the upper surface of the shoulder 5 of the pin, the operator moves the member a suiiicient distance that this edgeis out of the path of travel of the pin.

Assuming a car, embodying the invention. to be 1n the position as shown n Fig. 2 and the member 12' to be in the position as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the car being rotated in a rotary dumper or otherwise to discharge the lading carried thereby, the operation of the several parts forming the invention is as follows: When the car is being rotated the member 12 will move by gravity in a direction across the coupler un til such time as the edge of the member which defines the opening 13 passes over a portion of the shoulder 5 of the coupling pin 3 and comes to rest by this edge por tion engaging with the portion 6 of the pin. Its tse car is turther rotatel, the member 12 will move outwardly to such a position that one of the side edge portions 1'? ot the member will be back of one of the lugs l i and the pin 3 will also move outwardly until the shoulder '5 engages the member 12, all. of which is clearly shown in Fig. When the member 12 is in the position shown in this figure the pin cannot drop away from the coupler and should the vibration oi the car have any tendency to move the member 12 to a position out of the path of travel of the pin, such tendency will be stopped by the edge portion 17 ot the mom er 12 eiigag'ing one ot the lugs 1%. It will be understood that the member 12 is adapted to move outwardly by its own weight and is not dependent upon the pin to move it to its proper pin locking position. lVheii :tor any reason it is desired to. move the. member 12 from the coupler, the bolt 6 and coupling pin 3 are removed from the coupler atter which the member can be moved tree of the coupler.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that changes may be made in the details and ar rangement of the several parts hirming the invention without departing trom the spi "it and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent i:-

1. In a car, a coupler mounted thereon, a coupling pin movably mounted in said coupler, and movable means for maintaininesaid pin in said coupler, said means he caused to operate transversely of the of said pin by certain movements of said car.

2. In a car, a coupler mounted thereon, a. coupling pin loosely mounted in said coupler, and pin retaining); means on said coupler movable transversely of the axis of said pin into its retaining position when said car is being tilted sidewise.

3. In a car, a coupler mounted thereon, a couplingpin loosely mounted in said. coupler, member loosely mounted on said couplcr and adapted to move by gravity into engagen'ient with said pin to lock said pin against excessive movement when said car is tilted.

4. In a car, a coupler mounted thereon, a member loosely mounted on said coupler, a

coupling pin loosely mounted in said coupler and lravin a portion projecting into the plane or said member, said member being movable by gravity, when said car is rotated, into locking; engagement with said pin, and means on said coupler adapted to be engaged by said member lor holding" said member in its pin locking position when the car is rotated.

5. in aficar, a coupler mounted thereon, spaced lugs on said coupler having grooves formed therein, a member slidably mounted on said lugs within said grooves, a coupling pin loosely mounted in said coupler and having a portion extending; into an open-- ingtermed, in said member, said member being; movable by gravity into position to lock said pin in said coupler, as said car is being turned over toward'its dumping position and means for holding said member in its locking; position when said car is turned over.

6. In a car, a coupler mounted thereon, lugs eiztcnclingi; upwardly trom the top of said eou )ler, a coupling pin in said coupler and movable relative thereto, a member mounted in said andmovable by gravity into or out ot the path of travel 0t said pin, and. means for retaining said member 7 in the path of travel of said pin when said car is turned over to its dumping position.

7. In a car coupler, a pin loosely mounted in said coupler, lugs on said coupler having grooves formed therein, lugs in one of said grooves, a member loosely mount d in said grooves movable by gravity into the path of travel of said pin and into locking engagement with one oi? the lugs in one oi said grooves.

8. in a car coupler, a pin loosely mount ed in said coupler, a member loosely mounted on said coupler having an opening formed therein, said pin being adapted be passed through said opening to remove said pin :lrom said'coupler, said member being); movable by gravity into the path oi tra el said pin to prevent the accidental removal oi? said pin from said coupler.

9.111 a car coupler, a coupler head, a coupling pin retainii iner ber movableby gravity transversely oi said head, and means for liin... ,ng the movement of said member.

10. In a car coupler, acoupler head, a coupling pin retaining member mounted on said coupler head and movable transversely thereof by gravity, and stops tor limiting the movement of said member.

ln testimony whereotl'l atlix my signature.

BENJABHN l KURTZ. 

